Helpful Holiday Must Have

Why hello!!!! Has it really been 8 months since my last blog post?!?! Unreal. Ok who am I kidding acting shocked. For those of you that have followed me in the past, you know this really isn't anything new. I get hot and post daily for a bit and then wham, it's like I fall off the face of the earth. In my defense, during this last hiatus, we built a custom home. You better believe this detailed oriented perfectionist had her hands in every last design decision. Luckily my husband and I are still married after the process and our four littles are alive and well. So between the building, the packing, the summer madnes, the school chaos, dealing with a traveling husband, shlepping around two year old devils, I mean twins, and now the holiday mayham, I'm lucky to even still be standing. But one thing lately that has kept me going...I joined a gym. It's been 4+ years since I've stepped into a gym. But this membership has nothing to do with getting back into the gym. I honestly despise the gym. But I love the childcare set up. Everyday, if I so choose, I can check the twins in and head over to the coffee shop for two whole hours. So here I sit. In utter silence, up to my eyeballs in Thanksgiving dinner coordination, Christmas card ordering, Amazon wishlists and Christmas party planning, loving every second of this "me" time.

So with no further ado, here is a holiday must have I just came across. I'll be hosting 20 people for Thanksgiving with only one oven. I know, I know. How do I build a brand new home with only one oven? Due to my lack of enthusiasm for cooking, I opted for two dishwashers instead. So what's a girl to do with the abundance of food that I'm expected to keep warm? But of course - the Betty Crocker 3-tier Oven Rack.

If this is something that will eliminate some stress in your kitchen this holiday season like it will mine, you can score this item on Amazon for 50% off!

Gift Guide: 20 Unique Valentine Gifts For Your Man

It’s almost that time of year again when you get to express your love on Valentine’s Day with these unique gifts for him. Here’s a knock-out list of gifts for every budget that are sure to show him just how much you love him.

MR. FIX IT: HAND LIGHT

Put a handy light right where he needs it most: on his hand. This is perfect for those tight jobs where holding a flashlight and doing the job might be hard to do at the same time. It frees up his hands so he can get work done and see what he’s doing.

MR. HANDY: HAMMER/AX MULTI-TOOL

With this multi-tool he’ll be able to do all sorts of things, and unlike most other multi-tools this one includes a mini-ax, so it’s just a little more awesome than the others. It’s not like he can chop a tree down with it, but it could definitely come in handy.

MR. PARTY: BARWARE SET

If he likes to make drinks let him do it with more ease when you get him this barware set. It has everything a bartender uses to concoct delicious beverages, and will let him get the same sort of results at home that you’d get from a bar.

MR. BREWSKI: CHILL MAINTAINING GLASSES

These pilsner glasses reinvent the idea of a chilled beer glass. They don’t get all warm so soon after you pour the beer in, and they maintain their chill much longer than a regular glass. He can savor his beer a little longer with glasses like these.

MR. GOLFER: HIS OWN DRIVING RANGE

Set it up so that he can go to the driving range whenever he wants with this gift. He can blast golf balls as hard as he wants and the net will make sure that they don’t go soaring off to the neighbor’s windows.

MR. BEAUTY: BLACK JACK FACE MOISTURIZER

This moisturizer has nothing to do with the actor Jack Black. It’s just a high quality moisturizer that will make the skin on his face soft and supple. Guys forget sometimes that they need to use some product on their face, and this is a great reminder.

MR. PREPARED: LYNX HOOKS

He’ll be able to keep all of his gear secure with this strap and hook system. It’s very versatile and can be maneuvered in many different ways to accommodate stuff of all sizes. If he struggles with conventional straps and pulleys, this is the answer.

MR. SNUGGLEBUG: QUEEN SLEEPING BAG

Camping is a lot more fun when you have a sleeping bag big enough to fit the both of you. Snuggle up with your Valentine in this queen size sleeping bag and you’ll never go back to individual sleeping bags again.

MR. EXPERIENCE: RACE A FERRARI IN VEGAS

Give him the thrill of racing around the track in a real Ferrari, in Vegas of all places. He’ll get training on how to drive the car at higher speeds, and then he gets to take it for a spin. Beats the price tag of buying him a Ferrari.

MR. SPORTS NUT: NFL FLASK

Combine his love of football and love of booze with this NFL flask. There’s a wide selection of teams so you don’t have to go with the Seahawks (pictured) you can pick his favorite. If you don’t know his favorite team, he’s probably not a big football fan.

MR. BBQ: SILICONE BBQ GLOVES

These BBQ gloves won’t be winning any awards for style, but as far as functionality goes they’re top-notch. They’re made from silicone so they bend to his hands so he can get a good grip without the need of bulky oven mitts.

MR. FISHERMAN: SMARTPHONE FISH FINDER

For the fisherman in your life, give him the biggest edge possible with this fish finder that syncs up to his smartphone. Fishing is a lot more fun when you catch something, so make it a probability with this fish finding system.

MR. HOT & SPICY: SRIRACHA COOKBOOK

Does he love the spicy hot sauce known as sriracha? Find a bunch of recipes designed to put that sauce to use in a variety of different ways. He’ll love that you are catering to his tastes, and he’ll get introduced to plenty of spicy new dishes.

MR. MEAT: STEAK COOKING STONE

Place this stone in a very hot oven and you’ll have one amazing cooking tool at your disposal. Slap a steak on the stone and it starts sizzling right away and cooks to perfection before your eyes. It gives you the thrill of cooking right at your table without going out to eat.

MR. FITNESS: FITBIT CHARGE

The FitBit Charge is the latest fitness tracker from FitBit and not only helps him keep track of what he does throughout the day, but how well he’s sleeping at night. With this one tiny tool he’ll have an objective look at his fitness.

MR. WHISKEY: TANDEM WHISKEY SET

This is a great set if he likes to sip his whiskey slowly, and especially if you like to join him. It includes two glasses, as well as special stones that keep the whiskey at the right temperature without watering it down.

MR. TECHNOLOGY: CHROMECAST

With the Chromecast you can broadcast whatever is on your smartphone onto your HDTV, including a live feed of whatever the camera is pointed at. Guys are sure to get a kick out of seeing themselves in real time on the silver screen.

MR. SENSE OF HUMOR: FUNNY T-SHIRT

Guys love t-shirts and when you get him one that is in line with his sense of humor he’s really going to appreciate it. Busted Tees is the place to go to find funny and oddball tees and there’s such an assortment you can find one he’ll like in no time.

MR. EXECUTIVE: VALET STAND

He doesn’t need to be a CEO to feel like a million bucks, just get him this executive valet stand. It makes laying out your clothes the night before cool instead of nerdy, and will have all of his needed items ready when he wakes up in the morning.

MR. MAINTAINED: NOSE HAIR TRIMMER

This is a godsend for any guy that has too many nose hairs or has his ear hair coming in. It trims away any excess hair and leaves nostrils and ears hair free. He’ll appreciate it because he won’t have to pluck the hairs or use scissors which can be dangerous.

The gift every Father needs...

 

Stumped on what to give your dad or husband this Father's Day? All men loves tool and gadgets. And it's expected that all dads know how to fix everything. So it's only fitting that you buy him the most awesome pocket tool - The Leatherman Super Tool 300 Pocket Tool. This fun, efficient gadget has 19 tools in 1. And is currently on sale on Amazon. Orginally $87, now $65.

And don't forget the protective cover - the Leatherman Sheath. Comes in brown or black for only $14.

Why didn't I think of that?

How genius and functional is this water bottle? It's almost as cool as my iPhone card carrying phone case with an added bonus of carrying a key. It's products like this that make me shake my head and wonder - why the heck didn't I think of this? I'm smarter than that.

Perfect for the gym, long bike rides or to carry with you all day as you try to get in your 64 oz of water. Which I can't seem to master for the life of me. Tomorrow I keep saying. But for today, I sit surrounded by wine glasses and Diet Coke. Sigh.

To purchase, click HERE.

Party Pleasers: Little Cuties

 

I love the idea of Little Cuties. Translation: Fruit, custard, cream or meringue mini-pies baked in ½-pint, oven-safe mason jars. What a perfectly portioned treat. Just press the crust into the containers (available at Amazon, Walmart, even your hardware store). Choose a canned filling or whip one up yourself. Come dessert time, there’s no need to cut and serve. “People can grab a jar and dig right in,” says Shaina Olmanson, author of Desserts in Jars: 50 Sweet Treats That Shine. “They’re great for parties.” And your waistline - as long as you eat just one. Great as gifts too!

:: 2 Crowd Pleasing Little Cutie Ideas :: 

Mini Apple Pies: Who doesn't love apple pie!?!?

Ingredients:

2 boxes refrigerated pie crusts
8 Tbsp. butter
1/4 C flour
1/4 C granulated sugar
1/4 C brown sugar
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp salt
6 C sliced apples
1/2 C dried cranberries (optional)

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350° and set out 8 wide-mouth 8 oz jars. Cut out eight 6-inch circles and eight small circles (using jar lid as guide) from 2 boxes refrigerated pie crusts. Press into bottom, up side and over the lip of jars.

2. In saucepan, melt 8 tbsp butter over medium-high heat. Stir in 1/4 cup all-purpose flour and cook, whisking continuously, until golden brown, 2 minutes. Add 1/4 cup each granulated sugar and brown sugar, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg and 1/8 tsp salt and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat and pour over 6 cups peeled, cored and thinly sliced apples and, if desired, 1/2 cup dried cranberries. Toss to coat. Spoon into jars.

3. Cut small dough circles into strips; weave into lattice and crimp edges. Brush with lightly beaten egg and sprinkle with turbinado sugar. Place jars 2 inches apart on large baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 45 to 55 minutes or until golden. Allow to cool.

Lemon Meringue Pies with a Thyme-Shortbread Crust : Herbed shortbread becomes the crust for this classic lemon meringue pie, adding a bit of a twist on an old favorite. These tiny treats will win the hearts of the lemon lovers in your life.

Ingredients:

For the shortbread crusts:
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves

For the lemon filling:
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups water
1 cup fresh lemon juice, from about 4 lemons
Grated zest of 4 lemons
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
8 large egg yolks, beaten

For the meringue:
8 large egg whites
1/2 cup sugar

Makes 10 individual lemon meringue pies

Directions:

1. Make the dough for the crusts: Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes on medium-high speed. Mix together the flour, cornstarch, and thyme in a separate bowl. Add the flour mixture to the butter and mix until incorporated.

2. Have ready eight wide-mouthed 8-ounce jars. Turn out the dough onto a piece of parchment paper. Shape the dough into a long cylinder with a diameter 1/2 inch smaller than the diameter of the jars you are using. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

3. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Slice 1/4-inch slices of dough from the roll and place a slice in the bottom of each jar. Place the jars 2 inches apart on a large baking sheet. Bake the crusts for 10 minutes until just lightly golden. Remove from the oven and set aside.

4. Make the filling: Combine the sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium-size saucepan. Mix in the water, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Bring to a boil over medium heat, and stir in the butter until it is melted. Place the egg yolks in a heatproof bowl. Slowly pour 1/2 cup of the lemon mixture into the egg yolks, whisking continuously to temper the eggs. Whisk the egg yolks into the saucepan. Bring to a boil again and continue to cook over medium-high heat until the lemon filling is thick, about 5 minutes. Spoon the filling into the warm jars over the crust.

5. Make the meringue: In a large bowl, beat the egg whites until foamy. Beat in the sugar 1 tablespoon at a time until all is incorporated. Beat at medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. Spoon or pipe the meringue over the lemon filling in the jars, mounding it in the center to create peaks.

6. Place the jars 2 inches apart on a large baking sheet. Bake the pies for 10 minutes, or just until the meringue is golden brown. Remove from the oven, let cool completely, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Serve cold.

Goodies to Gift: Festive & Edible

 

Give the sweetest present this year; yummy treats wrapped in pretty packages!

:: Sweet ::

Peppermint Bark : 2 pounds (4 small tins) at $1.96 each

Chocolate-Peppermint Cake Pops : 48 pops at $.23 each

Layered Chocolate Cookie Mix : 1 jar at $7.33 each; 3 1/2 dozen baked cookies

Marbled Walnut Fudge : 4 dozen pieces at $4.01/dozen

Mixed Berry Granola : About 6 cups at $1.98 per cup

Cranberry-Poppyseed Biscuits : three 2 3/4 cup bags at $1.55 each

:: Salty ::

Chunky Salsa : Makes 10 cups at $1.53

Trio of Rubs : 1 jar (11 teaspoons) at $1.50 each

:: Fast and Easy Gift Packaging Ideas :: Raid your pantry and drawers for these items to repurpose on the fly...

Mason or other lidded glass jars: These are ideal for holding homemade candies, nuts and other small bites. Just sterilize with a quick boiling water bath first. A ribbon around the top makes it extra special.

Brown paper bags: Use lunch sacks or cut apart large bags to make wrapping paper. Add a gingerbread "icing" border around the top of the package with a white pen or white out. If you gift wrap, you can use yarn or stamps to do something other than ribbon.

Shoe, jewelry or other boxes: Pick a box based on the size or amount of your to-be-gifted treats. Wrap in paper and line with tissue or wax paper. No one will notice what the box originally held.

Dish towels or cloth napkins: If you have spares - or one in set that's not stained - bundle it around your sealed backed goods especially breadas and tie with twine or burlap ribbon. An old recipe card makes a perfect gift tag.

Oatmeal canisters: Cylinders are great for small items and easy to wrap. Roll in paper, cut it and tape it. Or create "candy wrapper" ends by gathering excess paper on either side of the tube with ribbon.

Decorative tin cans: If you don't have anything lying around the house, hit up the $1 store and pick yourself up a holiday tin can. Line with tissue paper or wax paper and you have an inexpensive,

Take-out boxes or favor boxes: Available at any craft store, with a lid or just the scalloped top ($20 for 50 at partycity.com) Line with food safe cellophane, tie with a stitched grosgrain ribbon and wah-la!

An oldie but goodie: Bangin' Bargains under $25

 

Back in 2010, I jotted down a few gift ideas for specific people in your lives - the workaholic, the beauty queen, the movie buff. The list goes on. Sadly I'm sure there will be links that don't work and a few products that might seem "dated" or not even available anymore but reposting wasn't necessarily about the specific products but more to inspire your inner creativity to give something more thoughtful. Instead of just getting them something mainstream, think about each individual person. What do they really like to do? What is a gift they will keep and use, not toss in the drawer?

Check out the post HERE. Happy Shopping!

Gift Guide: Stress-free Shopping

When you need a last minute present or just simply don't have time to package and ship, the "Treater" app can't be beat! This free app (for both iPhone & Android) lets you instantly give any friend gift certificates from everything from movie tickets and massages to gourmet dinners. Simply pick and purchase a "treat" and send it via Facebook, text or email.

Great for the holidays but a useful app all year round for those life events that sneak up on you!

Gift Guide: Mail Order Beauty

No time to shop? Stumped on what to give a girlfriend that has everything? Give the gift of a
re-occuring monthly box of high-end assorted cosmetics. Truly the gift that keeps on giving.

For only $10-$21 per month (you can pick how many months you want the box delievered), the recipient will be able to try out in-demand, luxe skin creams, perfumes, makeup, and hair products.

Here are a few beauty bento boxes to consider:

Birchbox: Sidestep dissapointment by testing trial-size luxe beauty supplies that have receieved numerous thumbs-up. My favorite option from the list. $10/month. www.birchbox.com

 

Myglam: Not only does myglam offer it's four or five monthly samples in full or deluxe sizes, it also includes a cute makeup bag with every package. The website offers makeup tutorials too. $10/month. www.myglam.com

Beautyarmy: This sampling program recommends makeup, fragrances, and more based on feedback from customer questionnaires. You can take user's advice or select six goodies on your own. $12/month. www.beautyarmy.com

Eco-Emi: If going green is more your style the Eco-Emi box will include 5-10 samples of natural, organic, green, Fair Trade or eco-friendly products in chic earth friendly packaging. $15/month. www.eco-emi.com

Glossybox: Delivers at least five products in-demand cosmetic products from lines like C.O. Bigelow, Cargo and Burberry Beauty with the occasional full-size item - no teensy-weensy foil samples here. $21/month. www.glossybox.com

Gift Guide: Simplify with Style

I don't know about you but I'm always struggling to juggle my money clutch, phone (god forbid I go anywhere without it), Target bags and a child's hand or two so whoever had the patent pending idea to manufacture a wallet that accomodates an iPhone, up to three credit cards and alittle cash is a genius in my book.

The Q Card Case for the iPhone 4/4s and 5 are a practical gift for both men and women, even teenagers, this holiday season. At only $40, you could even slide in a small gift card or some cash into the pocket for a secret surprise.

Gift Guide: Make it Personal

I love the idea of a lunch box filled with a few extra goodies as a Christmas gift. I'm especially obsessed with Frecklebox's personalized lunch boxes ($29.95) that have a chalkboard inside the lid for those "I love you notes" you want to include.

 

They also offer a  "look like me" box ($29.95) that allows you to customize the lunch box with the correct skintone, hair color, and their favorite activity.

And if you want to take the lunch box to the next level, you can personalize a Yubo box ($39.95). Incredibly functional with three built-in food containers and a custom built ice pack. All dishwasher safe and BPA-free, phthalate-free, and lead-free.

So much to choose from! Now fill it with little surprises and you've got yourself a super fun gift!

Frecklebox also carries an entire line of personalizable items from chore charts, placemats, puzzles and binders. All so cute and affordable prices.

Gift Guide: Fashionable under $50

Stumped on what to get your sister? Friend? Babysitter? I know clothing is hard to give but the Bobeau Asymmetical Fleece Wrap Cardigan makes the perfect gift. It lightweight so it can be worn year round. Flattering. A comfy throw on piece. And on sale! Currently marked down to $39.90 in the "Point of View" section at Nordstrom. Pair with a pair of earrings or a some nailpolish and you've got yourself a fashionable gift for under $50.

Or if you want to bypass the mall chaos, buy online and get free shipping! Available in 13 colors.